Kuemper Ball kicks off with 'A Knight at the Derby' theme

Chaircoupes for the 29th annual Friends of Kuemper Ball, featuring the theme “A Knight at the Derby,” are (from left Jeff and Lori Greteman, Dirk and Beth Glynn, John and Monica Healy, and Clint and Melinda Daniel. Daily Times Herald photo by Larry Devine

Kuemper Ball chaircouples

Clint and Melinda Daniel

Clint is self-employed with livestock production and also has his own construction business, while Melinda is employed by Drees Co. in Carroll.

Clint is a 1987 Kuemper graduate and has an associate's degree in tool and die. Melinda graduated from Miller (Mo.) High School.

They are members of Holy Spirit Parish.

Their children are Paige, a 2012 Kuemper graduate, who is attending Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines; Kirsten, Kuemper junior; Kylie, Kuemper freshman; and Zach, Kuemper sixth-grader.

Comments: "Before we started our family we decided that we would move back to the Carroll area to raise our children. We wanted them to have the same Catholic education that Clint's parents provided for him. We feel very fortunate that Kuemper is able to provide the kind of high-quality education and faith-based curriculum that will follow our children for years to come.

"We realize that without the many dedicated volunteers and generous supporters from the community, Kuemper Catholic School System would not be here today. We feel honored to be a part of such an amazing event that does so much for our school system and the community."

Jeff and Lori Greteman

Jeff is president and Lori finance manager for Windstar Lines Inc., a family-owned business that consists of Star Destinations, Town & Country Travel, Windstar Lines and Windstar Express.

Both are 1992 Kuemper graduates. They are members of Holy Spirit Parish.

Their children are Jackson Greteman, a Glidden-Ralston High School junior who participates in basketball, golf, FFA and student council; Abby Derner, a Kuemper freshman, who participates in volleyball, basketball and track; and Kyle Derner, a Kuemper seventh-grader, who participates in football, basketball and track.

Comment: "Both of us are proud to come from families of Kuemper graduates. Kuemper is a tradition of quality education. We truly appreciate the dedication given by the teachers, staff and other parents as a foundation for our children's future.

"The Kuemper Ball is a celebration of our community coming together to keep the excellence of Kuemper Catholic Schools alive. Your contributions ensure the future of Kuemper Catholic School System. We thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to seeing you on May 4 at the Kuemper Ball."

Dirk and Beth Glynn

Dirk is area manager for VanDiest Supply Co., and Beth is a stay-at-home mom.

They are members of Holy Spirit Parish.

Dirk graduated from Creston High School and Beth from Harlan High School, both in 1995, and both graduated from Iowa State University in 1999.

Their children are Frannie, a first-grader at Kuemper, and Griffin, a 4-year-old preschooler.

Comments: "We moved to Carroll eight years ago and immediately knew that our children would attend Kuemper Catholic Schools. We are honored to be a part of the 2013 Friends of Kuemper Ball and are grateful to have the opportunity to send our children to Kuemper. We believe we are giving them the lifelong gift of a Catholic education. We thank the Kuemper family and the community for their tremendous support of the 2013 Friends of Kuemper Ball. This generous support ensures the continued success of this great school. We look forward to celebrating Kuemper with you on May 4."

Comments: "Kuemper has been a wonderful support system for our family. We are truly blessed to have our children attend Kuemper. The Kuemper Ball has provided us with the opportunity to become better-acquainted with the Carroll community. We look forward to many more years of being a part of the Kuemper family. Thank you all for your support."

And they're off. The 29th annual Friends of Kuemper Ball fundraising campaign broke from the starting gates Sunday with organizational business plus announcement of this year's theme: "A Knight at the Derby."

The Kuemper Ball is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in May, which coincides with the Kentucky Derby, probably thoroughbred racing's most famous event. This year's 139th annual Run for the Rose at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and the Kuemper Ball will be Saturday, May 4.

Between now and then, campaign volunteers will be keeping a fast pace, raising funds for Kuemper Catholic School System.

Last year's Ball raised a record $508,195 - the first time over a half-million dollars - resulting in income of $455,024.

All money raised in the campaign goes to Kuemper schools, and funds from last year were allocated to: Funds to maintain teacher pay (general budget), general operating fund, marketing and recruitment, tuition assistance, technology equipment, professional development, religion textbooks, tuckpointing the west side of Kuemper High School, roof repairs on the high school and Holy Spirit Center, gym lights at St. Lawrence Center, playground repair at Holy Spirit, intercom system upgrade at St. Lawrence, one-half cost of a new freezer in the high school kitchen, building-entry modifications at St. Lawrence, Holy Spirit and St. Angela and critical needs, including a passenger vehicle for staff and student use, improvements to the public speaking and sound system in the high school gym and rebuilding the loading dock at the high school.

Kuemper president Vern Henkenius said in a letter included in this year's campaign packets, "One can see how funds from the Ball as well as other major fundraisers like the Alumni Phon-A-Thon, are so important. The 28 Balls held to date have raised a cumulative total of $6,526,571.

"Ball funds are used for tuition assistance and support for teacher pay. The fact that the school has a strong technology delivery system is due in large part to Ball support. Marketing the Kuemper Catholic School System is a constant goal. Textbook purchases continue to be important, as do professional-development activities. Finally, Ball funds are used for major expenditures to maintain the building and grounds."

Leading Sunday's meeting were chaircouples Clint and Melinda Daniel, Dirk and Beth Glynn, Jeff and Lori Greteman, and John and Monica Healy.

In a brief interview before the kickoff, Jeff Greteman said he sees a positive economic climate going into this year's campaign.

"The overall climate in Carroll County is pretty strong," he said. "The ag community has been very supportive of Kuemper, and we have started an ag raffle this year.

"Overall, so far, we've been real pleased, and we'll wait and see now that we're kicking off and starting to knock on doors."

Along with the raffle for a $20,000 voucher toward a vehicle and the general raffle featuring 21 prizes, a new feature this year is an ag raffle. Chances are $50 each, and the winner will receive a voucher for $10,000 toward a purchase at one of the four participating dealerships: Haley Equipment, Horizon Equipment, Rueter's or Schenkelberg Implement.

Top prize in the general raffle - tickets are $10 each - is a $2,000 travel voucher provided in part by Town and Country Travel.

Greteman said of the Knight at the Derby theme, "We thought it would be a good correlation. The Kentucky Derby is a big party, and we thought this would be a great way to raise funds for Kuemper."

The Kuemper Ball is also marking a first this year with Greteman serving as one of the chairpersons. He's the first second-generation chair. His parents, Mike and Cathy Greteman, along with Ray and Carol Lenz were chairs in 1990, when Jeff was a Kuemper sophomore.

"One thing that sticks in my mind is they (his parents) talked about how much fun they had with the other chaircouple, Ray and Carol Lenz," Jeff said.

"And this has been great because we've gotten to be good friends with these people," he said referring to the Daniels, Glynns and Healys.

The new-generation story will expand next year, when chaircouples will be Jair and Julie Mayhall, Chase and Janelle Schreck, Dr. Mike and Pat Soppe, and Brent and Cindy Tiefenthaler. Julie Mayhall is a daughter of Mike and Cathy Greteman, and Janelle Schreck is a daughter of Ray and Carol Lenz.

The loyalty and support the Ball has built over the years was demonstrated by Sunday's attendance of many past chairs, including Chico and Bev Kanne, who helped lead the inaugural event in 1985.

"There's been a good recipe for success, and we're going to try to build on that and continue it," Jeff Greteman said. "We're excited about it. We've had fun doing it."